Marine birds are in poor status and declining in most of the OSPAR Maritime Area. This mainly refers to birds feeding at the water surface, diving to the seafloor or foraging in shallow water / on mudflats, whereas birds feeding in the water column and herbivores are usually doing better.

Across Arctic Waters, Greater North Sea and Celtic Seas (OSPAR Regions I, II and III), for most species marine bird breeding productivity was so poor that future population size declines are likely. Breeding productivity was above threshold for the two species assessed in Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast (Region IV).

Non-indigenous species (NIS) continue to arrive in high numbers to OSPAR Regions, with potential negative effects on ecosystems. The rate of introduction, mostly crustaceans and macroalgae, is slightly decreasing in Greater North Sea (Region II), Celtic Seas (Region III), and Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast (Region IV), although lag time in report might explain this trend. Current monitoring shortfalls disable assessment of NIS dispersal and impact.

OSPAR is the mechanism by which 15 Governments & the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.